• According to a report released on Tuesday by Pew Charitable Trusts, no solution currently exists that could achieve perfect or near perfect match rates across EHR systems for all patients. The report however notes that actions could be taken to better link records which would benefit patients and providers.

• In the mean time, Pew recommends assessing privacy ramifications, agreeing on standardized demographics, clarifying government funding restrictions for unique identifiers, continuing to research (and adopt) referential matching using third-party data and verifying phone numbers and other identifying information provided by patients.

• To develop a stronger patient matching chassis, long-term opportunities include creating a single countrywide oversight organization, launching pilot projects for patients to use their own smartphones to help match records and determining the infrastructure and standards necessary to use biometrics and other more secure and effective patient-matching strategies.

Dive Insight

Effective patient matching is among the necessary elements to move toward the elusive goal of interoperability.

The report attempts to identify solutions to the patient matching dilemma, as patient-matching rates vary widely across the United States. Such inconsistencies can lead to safety problems and needless costs in repeat tests and delays in care.

Patient matching is currently carried out by making use of algorithms, unique identifiers, manual review or a combination of those methods. Some of the factors which contribute to inadequate match rates are standardization variance, typos, un-entered information, information changes and identity fraud.

Pew examined four main approaches for improvement. The first is in the realm of unique identifiers that identifies an individual and links to his or her records, such as biometrics. Biometrics (body measurements specific to a person, such as fingerprint or eye scan) are en vogue in European airports, for example, as a way to quickly and easily confirm someone's identity. However, such measurements can be stolen and, once compromised, can't be changed, for obvious reasons.

A second suggestion allow patients to ensure their records are matched correctly through a portal such as a smartphone app. For this strategy to be successful, patients would need to be motivated so they can be able to participate.

Pew also recommended standardizing demographic indicators across systems to promote interoperability and pinpointed referential matching, or using non-health related data from credit bureaus and other organizations, as a helpful scheme when other basic information such as address changes.

Pew researchers convened a series of panels, focus groups and interviews, including healthcare executives, yielded some interesting insight on how the C-suite views patient matching. Interorganization patient matching was found to offer the biggest opportunity for progress in their eyes.

Consistently, executives had a goal of 99% success rate in matching but no consistent method to measure progress to that goal, although many indicated they had already invested in software or employees to track matching.